The Belial Fall (The Belial Series Book 13)

by R. D. Brady

  “I did.” He looked away. “I have not always been a good man. But my time with Laney, Patrick, Nyssa, they have let me be who I am meant to be, not the monster I thought I was.”

  Mary Jane’s gaze strayed to Nyssa, who sat playing with Susie. And it all clicked into place. “Susie. Elisabeta took her and all those other children because she thought she was Lilith.”

  Cain nodded. “Yes.”

  “Is Nyssa Lilith?”

  “Yes. But she will remember nothing until she turns thirteen. Until then, she will be just an ordinary child. And I intend to give her a wonderfully ordinary childhood.”

  Mary Jane sat back, stunned. “You, she—” She couldn’t seem to form a sentence.

  Cain stood. “I realize this may change how you feel about me. But I did not want to keep this from you any longer. You have become dear to me, and I consider you a friend. I hope one day you will accept me for the man I am, not the one I was.” He walked away, slipping through the crates and out of her view.

  Mary Jane watched him go. She had been taught all her life that Cain was evil. And yet he had done nothing but offer friendship to her and her family. She had trusted him from the moment she had met him. She had sensed an old soul, but she could never have guessed just how old.

  “Mary Jane?” Henry sat down next to her.

  “Hey, hi.”

  “Just wanted to see how you’re doing.”

  “I’m all right. Any word from Jake . . . and everybody else?”

  “They reached the facility. First group got in. But don’t worry. They are all very good at what they do.”

  Mary Jane kept staring at the space where Cain had disappeared.

  “Something wrong?”

  “What? No, um, just . . . did you know about Cain?” She paused, horrified that she had just almost betrayed Cain’s confidence.

  “You mean that he is the actual Cain?”

  Mary Jane nodded.

  “I’ve known since before I met him. But how did you learn about that?”

  “He told me.”

  Henry let out a low whistle. “That is the first time he’s done that to my knowledge.”

  “So it’s true?”

  Henry nodded. “Yes.”

  A simple little word and yet earth shattering in so many ways. “Is he . . . is he a good man?”

  “When I first met him, he wasn’t. To be honest, I hated him and would have killed him in a heartbeat. He was trying to take my mom. But Laney helped me see through his eyes. He was desperate to keep Victoria from dying. She was the only family he had. And once she died, there was no guarantee he would be able to find her again. I can’t imagine living for so long with so little connection. He kept himself away from people. No one could really understand what he had been through except Victoria. He needed that connection.”

  “And now?”

  “And now, Laney saw the good in him. The good I don’t think he even saw. She treated him like that man, rather than the evil man everyone else saw him as. And it changed him.”

  “You trust him?”

  Henry paused, then gave a little laugh. “Actually, I do. He loves Laney, Patrick, Nyssa. He stood next to Laney on that dais, even though he didn’t have to. He has billions hidden away. He could have disappeared if he wanted to. But he didn’t. He’s here with all of us. Not because he has to be, but because he wants to be. He’s standing up, and I respect him for it.”

  “I don’t know what to think.”

  “I won’t tell you what to think, but I will tell you to trust your gut.” He paused. “So what does your gut tell you?”

  Mary Jane stood up, kissing Henry on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  She hurried down the path through the boxes that Cain had disappeared into. She found him a few rows back, checking boxes off on an inventory list. “Hi.”

  He looked up, the light glinting off his black eyes for a moment.

  Mary Jane had to stop herself from stepping back. His eyes really were frightening. She forced herself to step forward. “I thought you might need some help.”

  He stopped for a moment before handing her the checklist. “I’d appreciate that.”

  She smiled, taking the clipboard from him. “What are friends for?”

  CHAPTER 93

  Bluefield, Virginia

  As soon as the elevator doors opened, bullets roared into the car. Laney could tell Matt was about to blur. She grabbed him, holding him back. “Wait.”

  Closing her eyes, she summoned the wind. It barreled through the hallway in front of them. Two screams sounded, followed by thuds. Laney, Matt, and Hanz were moving before the last thud had faded. A soldier was sprawled across the hall only a few feet from the elevator. A man and a woman were farther down the hall. Jordan tied up the soldier while Matt reached the woman first, quickly zip tying her hands. Hanz did the same for the man.

  Laney scanned the hall and turned back to Cleo. Any more?

  Two. Behind doors. One’s Dom. Cleo padded out of the elevator and trotted to the end of the hall. Laney followed her, seeing Lou, Rolly, and Danny slip out and go down the other hallway. Laney’s gut tightened. But then Jordan and Jen slipped out after them, easing some of Laney’s fear.

  Cleo stopped at a doorway at the end of the hall. She scratched at it.

  Step back. Laney slammed her boot into the door, wincing as the bottom hinge tore loose and the door flung open.

  She hadn’t meant to hit it so hard. A cry sounded from inside the room. Laney stepped in, cautiously. At first she didn’t see him. The bed was empty. But then she caught movement in the corner of the room, hidden by the bed. Laney walked forward slowly. “Dom?”

  A whimper sounded.

  She rounded the bed, and her heart broke at the sight. Dom cowered against the back wall, his hands over his head as he crouched low.

  She knelt down in front of him, reaching out to touch his arm, but he jerked away with a cry. “Dom, Dom. It’s me. It’s Laney.”

  What did they do to you? What did I do?

  Cleo nudged her aside, laying her head on Dom’s arm. Dom went still, but he didn’t push her away. He lifted up his head, his eyes unfocused, as if he couldn’t understand what was in front of him. He reached up tentatively and touched her. “Cleo?”

  Cleo licked him in response.

  “Cleo!” Tears flowed from Dom’s eyes. He wrapped his arms around her, his shoulders shaking. Then Dom looked up through tear-drenched eyes. “Laney?”

  She smiled, feeling tears press against the back of her eyes. She spoke softly. “Hey, Dom. How about we get you out of here?”

  Yoni spoke as he crossed the room toward them. Laney hadn’t even heard him arrive. “I brought you something.” He held out Dom’s glasses. Dom reached up and took them, placing them on his face. Like usual, they sat at a slight angle.

  Laney took one of Dom’s arms while Yoni grabbed the other. “Come on, Doc. We’ve got you.”

  Between the two of them, they got Dom to the door and into the hall. He reared back as he saw the two agents on the floor. “They, they—”

  Laney stepped in front of him, blocking his view. “They won’t hurt you. I promise.”

  “Come on, Doc. We need to get you out of here,” Yoni said.

  Dom shook his head, starting to shake. “No, no. I-I can’t. I don’t want to go out—”

  Yoni slipped his arm around his waist. “Doc, we need to—”

  Jen blurred into view, plunging a needle into Dom’s arm without a word. Dom’s eyes rolled back in his head. Yoni stumbled under the sudden weight, but Jen propped Dom up before he could fall.

  “What did you do?” Yoni’s face was stricken as he tried to push Jen’s hands away and take Dom.

  Jen placed a hand on Yoni’s arm, her voice soft. “He hasn’t been in the outside world in years, Yoni. It’s better if he’s not awake for this next part.”

  Yoni opened his mouth, then shut it, his shoulders falling. “Yeah, I guess that’s prob
ably true.” He took a deep breath. “But let me take him, okay?”

  Jen nodded, transferring him to Yoni’s arms.

  “I’ll get him to the van.” Yoni headed down the hall. Laney watched them go, her heart feeling heavy and her throat tight. Dom looked so helpless in his arms.

  Jen stepped next to her, her shoulder touching Laney’s, which let Laney feel the tremor run though her. “It’ll be okay, Lanes. We have him now.”

  “Yeah.” But she knew neither of them believed Jen’s words. It was going to be a tough road back for Dom.

  A loud screech of metal sounded from down the hall where the teenagers had disappeared. Laney and Jen exchanged a look. “I better go see what they’re up to.” Jen blurred down the hall and around the corner.

  Here. Cleo stopped in front of another closed door.

  Laney had forgotten about the other person.

  “What is it?” Jake asked as he approached.

  “Someone’s inside.”

  Jake hefted his gun. “Good or bad?”

  “Only one way to find out.” Laney kicked the door open. She stepped inside and barely managed to duck the punch aimed at her head from the side. She turned, grabbing the woman’s outstretched fist, putting her into an armbar and pushing her up against the wall. “Hey.”

  The woman struggled against Laney’s hold. “God damn it. Let me go.”

  “Who are you?” Laney demanded.

  “Shouldn’t you know?” the woman sneered.

  Jake stepped into the woman’s line of sight. “What is your name?”

  The woman stopped struggling, surprise flitting across her face as she studied Jake’s face. “You’re Jake Rogan.”

  He nodded.

  Laney felt the fight flow out of her. Carefully, Laney released her, stepping out of range. The woman turned around, rubbing her elbow, her eyes going wide at the sight of Laney. “You’re Delaney McPhearson.”

  Laney nodded. “And you are?”

  “Major Gina Carstairs, United States Marine Corps, board certified psychiatrist.” She paused, her head snapping to the doorway. “You’re friends with Dr. Radcliffe. He’s here. You have to—”

  “We’ve got him.”

  The woman’s shoulders sagged. “Thank God.”

  “I take it you’re not part of this little circus,” Laney said.

  “I was drafted, but I didn’t agree with their methods.” She gestured to her swollen eye.

  Laney met Jake’s gaze. She could read the skepticism there. “Well, I guess we can work that out later.”

  The major frowned. “What do you me—”

  Laney shot her with a tranq dart.

  The major’s eyes bulged before she reached for Laney. Laney caught her as her eyes closed.

  “Well, what the hell are we going to do with her?” Jake asked.

  Laney picked the woman up. “Find out what she knows. But not here.”

  Jake shook his head but just stepped out into the hall. “Okay.”

  Laney hefted the woman over her shoulder and followed him just as more banging sounded. “What is that?”

  Jake shook his head. “You’re kind of going to have to see it for yourself.”

  Adjusting the woman on her shoulder so her belt wasn’t cutting into her skin, Laney hurried toward the elevator as Jen appeared, carrying an old computer tower.

  Laney stopped short. “Uh, Jen? What are you doing?”

  Jen placed the tower on the ground only to be joined by Lou and Rolly each carrying their own towers while Danny and Jordan carried one between them. “Danny said it would take too long to transfer the data. According to him, these are the computers the dinosaurs used, so he suggested we bring the entire system with us.”

  Laney’s mouth dropped open, and she shook her head. “Well, sure, why not?”

  CHAPTER 94

  Washington, D.C.

  Senator Bart Shremp could not keep his leg from jiggling underneath the table. The senator from Illinois was droning on about corn subsidies. He’d been talking for twenty minutes now, and Shremp honestly couldn’t recall a word of what he’d said. He couldn’t even say for sure if the senator was arguing for or against the subsidies. He was attending the meeting on agricultural subsidies because he was required to. But while his body might physically be sitting in the conference room of the Hart Building, his mind was most definitely not confined within the room or even the building.

  No, he was imagining how he was going to roll out his information. Once he received verification from the lab that the substance was in fact the Omni, he would have to carefully plan who he let know and how. As the head of the CEI, he had access to a large budget. He could go ahead and initiate a test program to see how effective the serum was on a handpicked crew of subjects. Perhaps he could borrow some candidates from the military, individuals who were used to taking orders and were patriotic. Then he would have a group under his command that were more powerful than any other group with the U.S. military.

  Not that he was planning a coup. No, if he played this right, a coup would not be necessary. If he played this right, he was practically guaranteed the White House on a silver platter. He would be the one who brought the greatness back to the United States. He smiled.

  Perhaps I’ll even take a little sample of the Omni myself. It would be good to feel that kind of power running through my veins.

  “Senator Shremp, do you have a vote?”

  Shremp looked up. The rest of the committee was staring back at him. He shook his head. “I abstain.”

  The committee head nodded, and the secretary jotted down his vote. “Very well. The initiative passes. I think this would be a good time to break for lunch. We’ll see everyone back here at one o’clock.”

  The senators and their aides began to gather their things. Shremp stood and stretched, his lower back aching. Damned chairs. He waved at his papers on the table. “Take care of that, would you, Adam?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Shremp strolled out of the room. A few senators called out to him. He gave them a wave, tossing in a few good-natured “Hey, how you doings” as he headed for the elevator. He pressed the button, and the doors slid open.

  “Hold the elevator,” Senator Mitch Roberts called, hurrying forward. Shremp pretended not to hear him and hit the button to shut the doors. A few minutes later he was stepping out into the brisk fall air. The temperature had dropped a few degrees since he’d been inside.

  Should’ve grabbed my coat, he thought as he headed down the steps. His phone rang, and he pulled it out quickly. It was Frankel. “Hello?”

  “Senator Shremp?”

  “Agent Frankel.” He glanced around, making sure no one could overhear his conversation. “I thought we agreed you were not to call me on my cell unless there was an emergency.”

  “That is why I am calling.”

  “What’s happened?”

  She spit out the words. “Delaney McPhearson.”

  Dread flowed through Shremp.

  “She attacked the facility. Radcliffe is gone. So is Carstairs.”

  “Damn it! How could you let this happen?”

  “How could I let this happen? I told you we needed better security. But you were worried about raising red flags.”

  “Immaterial.”

  His mind whirled. McPhearson had led an attack against a government facility. He could use this. She’d attacked and killed government soldiers. The public would eat it up. The one thing the public wouldn’t stand for was someone attacking American soldiers doing their jobs.

  “Actually, this is good, good. Get me profiles on each of the soldiers that were killed. I want stuff that makes them look like American heroes. Also—”

  “No guards were killed.”

  “What?”

  The man running the coffee stand by the curb looked up at Shremp. Shremp turned his back on him and picked up his pace. “What do you mean no guards were killed? You just said she attacked the facility.”


  “Like I said, she attacked the facility, but no one was killed. They used Tasers, tranq guns, and non-lethal force. There are some broken bones, concussions, but everyone will live.”

  “They didn’t kill anyone?”

  “No.”

  God damn it. That wasn’t going to sell.

  “There’s another problem.”

  “What?”

  “They have a copy of the security tapes.”

  “What?” he shrilled.

  “The system is internally controlled. It can’t be hacked into. They didn’t have time to make a copy, so they just took the whole system.”

  “Are you kidding?”

  “No, sir. They have video of everything that was done at that facility. Everything.”

  This was just getting worse and worse. Prior to housing Radcliffe, they’d had a few other “guests.” Their treatments would not exactly endear them to the public. “We need to get out ahead of this.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Nothing. I think you’ve done enough.” He disconnected the call and immediately called Adam. As soon as Adam answered, Shremp started barking orders. “Find me everything you can on a Major Gina Carstairs. I want every ‘I’ she failed to dot and every ‘T’ she failed to cross, and I want it yesterday. And—”

  “Sir, the lab has been trying to reach you.”

  Yes! “Good, what do they—”

  “It’s not the Omni.”

  “What?”

  “The ingredients are all real, but they don’t make the Omni.”

  “Well, then what do they make?”

  “Um, Rootin’-Tootin’ Raspberry drink. Like Kool-Aid.”

  Shremp’s mouth fell open. “What?”

  “Rootin’-Tootin’ Ras—”

  “I heard you!” He seethed. That basketcase had played him. He had given him the wrong formula.

  “Sir, what do you—” Shremp disconnected the call.

  He stood up, pacing the room. No, no. This was all going wrong. He took a few breaths, trying to control his breathing. He had been in Washington for close to twenty years. He was not going to let anything stop him from achieving his dream of the presidency. Not when he was so close. He just needed to figure out the right angle to spin this.